with GM Ioannis Papaioannou
GM Ioannis Papaioannou continues his acclaimed Strategy Wednesday series this September with one of the most dynamic and decisive strategic concepts in chess — Counterplay. This edition, Preventing and Creating Counterplay, is designed to help players master the art of recognizing counterplay opportunities, neutralizing opponent threats, and generating active counterchances in complex middlegame positions.
With his trademark structured and clear teaching style, GM Papaioannou will guide you through the essential strategic principles, tactical motifs, and positional understanding required to excel in both defensive and offensive counterplay situations. A special emphasis will be placed on understanding when to seek counterplay versus when to consolidate, and how to evaluate the critical balance between attack and defense.
You will discover that counterplay concepts appear across virtually all chess openings and structures, with the first two lectures examining defensive counterplay techniques through carefully analyzed practical examples, while the final two lectures will focus on creating active counterplay opportunities and transforming difficult positions. Understanding these strategic patterns will dramatically improve your ability to handle pressure and seize the initiative across your entire repertoire.
As in previous editions, the camp will take place over two Wednesdays — 10.09.2025 and 24.09.2025, with two sessions on each day. After each session, participants will receive 10 test positions designed to reinforce the key concepts from the lectures. The final PGN file will include all test positions with detailed solutions.
Strategy Wednesday is part of the Modern Chess Academy, which means that all Academy members receive free access to the live lectures and the complete digital product released afterward.
✅ Dates: 10.09.2025 and 24.09.2025
✅ Training Platform: Zoom
✅ Coach: GM Ioannis Papaioannou
10.09.2025
Paris Time | New York Time
17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Preventing and Creating Counterplay – Part 1
19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Preventing and Creating Counterplay – Part 2
24.09.2025
Paris Time | New York Time
17:30 – 19:00 | 11:30 – 13:00 – Preventing and Creating Counterplay – Part 3
19:30 – 21:00 | 13:30 – 15:00 – Preventing and Creating Counterplay – Part 4
21:00 – 21:30 | 15:00 – 15:30 – Q&A Session with GM Grigor Grigorov and GM Petar Arnaudov
As with all Modern Chess camps, participants will receive: – Recordings of all lectures
– PGN files with all material covered
– Free access to the digital product based on the four lectures
This camp is your opportunity to master counterplay — a strategic weapon that can transform losing positions into draws and equal positions into winning chances. Learn to identify and execute both defensive and offensive counterplay patterns that will elevate your middlegame understanding to the next level.
This event is completed.